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GOLD - MINING, 


IN COLORADO. 


B V 

/ 

S. DOUGLAS CORNELL, A. M. 


OIF BUFFALO, N. Y. 



BUFFALO: 

Y$i\ LEAV1TT,S STEAM P0WE R PRESS, NO. 72 LLOYD STREET 

1863. 





<f£X 



































REPORT 


ON THE 


CONDITION & PROSPECTS 


OF 


GOLD-MINING 


0/ , $ IN COLORADO. 

G . ;i . 

BY * 


S. DOUGLAS CORNELL, A. M. 

M 


OF BUFFALO, TV. Y. 


- 


' ' ( i' HR ! 


v \ 


A 

\ Y 


BUFFALO: 

PRINTED BY J. S. LEAYITT, BINDER AND STATIONER 

No. 70 and 72 Lloyd Street. 

kJ £> 


1863. 

















N 4-tl 

.Cic.* 


Entered according to act of Congress, in tlie year 1863, by 
S. DOUGLAS CORNELL, 

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Northern District 

of New Yo’-’- 







Having visited the territory of Colorado, for the purpose 
of examining the condition and, prospects of gold-mining in 
that country , I respectfully submit the following report ; 

Buffalo, October 1, 1863. 

* • 

Early Explorations cf Colorado. 

The fact that more than three centuries ago the Spaniards 
knew nearly as much of Colorado as was known in the United 
States until 1858, is so remarkable, that a short sketch of the 
various epochs in the history of the territory, since the advent 
of the white race, is not only interesting, but throws much light 
on the present condition and developeraent of the mines them¬ 
selves. It shows the reason why no further progress has yet 
been made in extracting gold from the quartz or rock. This 
is, as will be seen hereafter, the recency of their discovery, 
which, properly speaking, occurred not much more than two 
years ago. 

Recent Increase of Population.—Reason why 
it has not been more rapid. 

The rapid increase of the white population from no more 
than a few trappers and traders with the Indians, in 1858, 
to about 40,000, who are now employed in producing the pre¬ 
cious metal or in supplying the wants of the laborers, is in it¬ 
self a suggestive and incontrovertible argument, proving the 
profitable character of gold-mining in Colorado. At the same 
time it should always be remembered that deep quartz-min- 



















4 


ing, sucli as formed chiefly the subject of my enquiries, and is 
the great method of mining in the territory, requires outlay for 
machinery and expensive preliminary operations, thus At¬ 
tracting immigrants much more slowly, than is the case in a _ 
country of surface work where the laborer needs little more 
capital than a spade, a shovel, a fork and a bowl. 

Spanish and French Expeditions. 

About 1540-’50 a large expedition, organized under a Span¬ 
ish officer, Yasquez de Coronada, penetrated into the regions 
now known as Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, probably 
continuingits researches into Kansas and Colorado. Yas- 
quez was the first who made known to that which we call 
the world, that animals then abounded on the Plains, Imeyes 
con una giba , or oxen with a hump on their backs, (buffaloes.) 
The Indians represented the country of the northwestern 
mountains as prolific in gold and silver, and the cupidity of 
the French and Spanish leaders was excited, but the barren 
deserts and hostile savages long rendered abortive further 
efforts at exploration. 

United States’ Exploration—Lieut. Pike. 

In 1802-3 the United States government, desirous of know¬ 
ing the character and features of the region contiguous to the 
boundaries determined between Spain, the United States and 
Louisiana, sent Lieut. Zebulon Pike on the expedition. He 
crossed what is now Northern Kansas, and following up 
the Arkansas river discovered the Peak, now bearing his 
name and already famous as the popular title of the whole 
gold region of Colorado. He was afterwards taken prisoner 
by the Spaniards, but was soon released, and at last met his 
death at Kingston, Canada. 

Expeditions made under Long and Fremont 
various attempts to settle Colorado. 

Twenty years afterward Long’s expedition was dispatched, 
and in about twenty years more bremoiit w s nt out twi e 


















5 


but the knowledge of this region remained very meagre till 
1858, if we except that of a few solitary trappers and traders 
who lived at the foot of the Mountains. Some adventurous 
Californians prospected on the North and South Plattes, and 
attempted to open the new Gold Regions, but found so few 
to believe their stories that they never returned. 

Stampede and return of Emigrants. 

In 1858 one party, chiefly Georgians, from the Cherokee 
nation, and another from Kansas, met at the confluence of the 
South Platte and Cherry Creek, where Denver now is. Here, 
finding good “ prospects” of gold on the streams, they re¬ 
mained all winter. Next spring, (1859) a large emigration 
started from the Missouri river, encountering much hardship 
on the Plains, and becoming disappointed in the mines. A 
strange stampede ensued. Every man on the Plains who 
said he believed there was any gold at all near the Peak, was 
in danger of his life, and the river towns in Missouri w*ere 
threatened with destruction by the returning pilgrims, who 
declared they had been induced to visit the Mountains by 
humbug reports made for ulterior purposes, and that the gold 
was a myth. 

One man who keeps a flourishing store and tavern on the 
Plains, told me that at the time I speak of he “daren’t for his 
life tell them he knew there was plenty of gold on the 
Mountains, or that he meant to keep tavern on the Plains;” 
and when he camped on the ground where his store is, he told 
every one he only meant to stop over one night, and that be¬ 
cause his oxen were so foot-sore. 

Rich discoveries in Gregory District. 

Just as this stampede was going on, the rich discoveries in 
the Gregory District (where Central City is) established be¬ 
yond doubt or cavil the fact that a new source of gold was 
presented to the world. Enterprise and public confidence 
were revived throughout the Territory. 
















6 


Quartz-mining began 1859-’60. 

In 1859-’60 a large area was prospected. From finding 
gold in the gulches, attention was rapidly directed to the 
quartz veins in the Mountains, and a large amount of ore 
was extracted, to be ground by the stamj) mills expected from 
the east during the ensuing summer. 

Prospects for 1863 and future years. 

It is believed by many well-informed persons in Colorado 
that the “ gold crop” of the present will be double that of the 
preceding year. The mining districts have at best been only 
partially prospected. In some places where the gulch and 
hill mining is very successful, the people are satisfied with 
the surface, and do not give themselves the trouble to trace 
the superficial deposits to their sources or crevices in the rocks, 
but new and rich discoveries are frequently made. 

Superiority of the Gregory District—its extent 
and Quartz Mills. 

Hitherto the region known as the Gregory District, retains 
its early preeminence over all others in the production of 
gold. It extends from Gold Hill to Empire City, about thirty 
miles, along the base of the Snowy Iiange, and is on the 
average about ten miles in. width, thus giving an area of three 
hundred square miles of gold-producing Mountains. In this 
District there are now more than a hundred quartz-mills in 
operation. 

Testimony of Gov. Evans, as to the Mines in 
the Gregory District. 

The Hon. John Evans, Governor of Colorado, in his an¬ 
nual address to the Legislative Assembly, dated July 17, 
1862, sums up much valuable and authentic information on 
this subject in the following words: 

“ The veins of quartz are found throughout the Gregory 
District, within an average distance of one hundred feet of 
each other. They are by the mining laws divided into claims 













7 


of one hundred feet in extent, making surface enough on 
quartz-lodes in this region alone for over eight hundred thous¬ 
and claims. These veins are from six inches to nine feet in 
thickness, and vary even more in their quality, from those 
that will not pay at all, to those that produce the richest ore 
that has been found in any part of the world.” 

Governor Evans adds that a careful enquiry at that date, 
(July 17, 1862) as to the product of the mills and mines in a 
circle of three miles alone in the Gregory District, placed it 
at $95,000 per week, or at the rate of nearly $5,000,000 per 
annum. Since that time it has been, and now is, steadily and 
rapidly increasing. 


Expense and Profit of Mining. 

He very properly adopts the method of calculation by the 
ton of ore—not as is commonly the practice, by the cord, a 
measurement better adapted to wood than to minerals. He 
believes that ore yielding $12, per ton pays all expenses; 
that all beyond this is clear profit. 

When mention is made of twelve or any other number of 
dollars as the product of a ton or cord of quartz, the calcula¬ 
tion is uniformly made in gold, to estimate the amount in 
currency the premium on gold must be added. 

Productiveness of the Ore. 


The same authority also states that the ore in most of the 
lodes now worked, pays at least thirty-six dollars per ton, 
while in some instances the same quantity yields one hundred 
and fifty, two hundred, and even as high as five hundred dol¬ 
lars, treated by the stamping process alone. This ore yields 
upon analysis from three to six times as much gold as can be 
saved by the ordinary methods now in use, giving results 
which to the inexperienced appear to be almost fabulous. 

Analysis of the Ore. 

Dr. D. W. King, of Empire City, Assistant Surgeon 2d 
Keg't Colorado volunteers, has made many analyses of this 










8 


% 


ore, using one ounce of pulverized pyrites each time, with re¬ 
sults varying from three hundred and twenty to two thousand 
two hundred and forty dollars per ton, or $13,440 per cord, 
if measured as wood is. Other analyses, with equally favora¬ 
ble results, have been reported to Governor Evans by various 
parties. These results were probably attained from specimens 
selected with great care and skill. 

Of course no practical conclusions can be drawn from mere¬ 
ly chemical analyses inapplicable upon a large scale. The 
practical proof is in the profit and actual yield to the miner. 

Estimates of the Average Productiveness of the 
Ore.—Yield of the Ore per Cord or Ton. 

In the absence of full and regular statistics on the subject, 
some discrepancy must exist in the most careful estimates, 
formed at different times and by different persons. My own 
estimates were made before I had seen those of Gov. Evans. 
From the information given me by many experienced miners, 
I had inferred that the whole expense attending the quartz 
from beginning to end was about $100 per cord, or $16 X per 
ton, although by improvements already in progress, the ex¬ 
pense will be greatly reduced. I had estimated the average 
yield per ton or cord a little higher than his estimate, so that 
on the whole no material discrepancy exists between our 
views, none at all as to the fact that judicious investments in 
well conducted mining operations in Colorado are very profit¬ 
able. 

It will be observed that the profit on each ton of quartz 
thus costing $12, and yielding $36, is at the rate of two hun¬ 
dred per cent, and that too in a manufacture or business wdiere 
the returns are unusually quick and active, as the various 
operations of mining, crushing the ore, extracting and selling 
the gold, may easily be performed within a week. 

Total product of Gold in Colorado Territory. 

The total yield of gold in the Territory last year, as report- 













9 


ed to the Assay Office, New York, was about eight and a 
half millions of dollars, or, to be precise, $8,521,000. This 
was gold, not depreciated currency. But no sufficient data 
exist for the computation of the whole yield of the Territory . 
Much was sent to other places and through other channels— 
much too, remains in the hands of the miners. There are well 
informed persons who believe the product of precious metal 
in Colorado, this year, will be about twenty millions of dollars; 
and the Hon. IT. P. iJennet, of Colorado, in a speech made 
last winter in Congress, stated his confident expectation, that 
in five years time, by 1869, the annual yield of gold will be 
$50,000,000, increasing yearly thereafter. Much in this re¬ 
spect depends upon the duration of the war, which draws 
useful industry from peaceful and profitable pursuits. But 
my investigations satisfied me that both labor at very high 
rates of wages, and capital as a very profitable investment, 
may be employed in the Mountains to an almost indefinite 
extent, with as much safety as accompanies any other manu¬ 
facture, and without the dangers from change of tariffs, or 
glutting the markets, which hang over those who are engaged 
in smelting iron, or any similar pursuits. 

Impediments to Successful Mining—the “ Cap.” 

The gold-producing quartz or ore had its origin far down 
in the earth, and was forcibly ejected from beneath, in crevices 
formed by some great convulsion of nature, through the old 
granite rocks. The crevice is detected and traced from 
the indication on the surface, and the quartz taken out to va¬ 
rious depths. Then, perhaps 20 or 40 feet down, the adven¬ 
turous miner arrives at a floor of different rock, containing 
little or no gold. This rock is known throughout the Territory 
as the “ Cap.” 

The Deepest Ore the Richest. 

Two years ago the miners thought the “ Cap ” was an end 
to all their hopes and mining. But some reasoned in this 










10 

way : u Gold is heavier than rock. It is plain to the eye that 
the crevice continues; there is no reason why the 4 Cap’ should 
not come to an end as we found the surface quartz has; there¬ 
fore the gold-quartz will be richer than before.” They found 
the “crevice-walls” continued clearly defined, and dug or 
blew their way deeper down. 

One fellow who came with his own team over the Plains 
and brought some rice with him, argued that just as when he 
boiled rice in his pot, a few grains only were driven by the 
bubbling water to the surface, while the heavy mass remained 
at the bottom—so the boiling of the great cauldron of nature 
when it broke through the granite, the most solid part of the 
crust of the earth, had, in its fervent seethings, sent only a few 
particles of gold to the surface, while lower down, how deep 
no human mind yet knoweth, were the great masses of gold, 
vast as those of copper near Lake Superior, and perhaps 44 in 
place and in position,” as geologists would say. 

So far as the miners have gone, it is true that the deeper 
they penetrate, the more gold is there in the ore, and also that 
in no case where the crevice is well defined, and the surface 
quartz has been rich, have persistent efforts to find the gold 
under the 44 Cap,” ever failed to succeed. 

44 He’s in the Cap,” has become a.common phrase in the 
Mountains, to denote a brave man struggling in toils or diffi- 
culties of any kind. It is an emphatic description of the 
Territory as a whole, the owners of the mines being chiefly 
persons of no great wealth, who are working through the 
44 Cap” in confident and reasonable expectation of an abun¬ 
dant reward. 

Reason why those who wish to Invest in Min¬ 
ing in Colorado, should lose no time. 

In this connection it is well to remember that many of those 
who are engaged in mining in Colorado, are already accumu¬ 
lating large fortunes rapidly, and being naturally desirous 




11 


of investing their money in enterprizes such as they have 
found sate and profitable, many of the best lodes will soon 
be taken up by persons who reside in their neighborhood. 
It is impossible to determine at present how extensive are 
such lodes as it is profitable to work, but it is computed that 
not more than one out of ten is of this character. 

At present Colorado is remarkably free from speculation, 
although good claims on lodes proved to be successful and 
safe, already sell for many thousands of dollars. It is difficult 
to ascertain exactly the prices paid. 

* Unusual Good Fortune. 

The argument on the value of lodes may be familiarly stated 
by this example; “ if as is commonly reported, Mr. Fields took 
$75,000 last year out of 33 5 feet, leaving himself a mine ap¬ 
parently more profitable than when he began, what is the 
value of a hundred feet next to his claim, and on the same 
lode, the cost of mining being as I have already stated ?” 

There are other lodes of which the reputation is less estab¬ 
lished, but some that will probably be as profitable as any 
yet worked. 

• 

General statement as to Remunerative Charac¬ 
ter of Mining—Personal inspection urged. 

I shall have pleasure, if requested, in giving any other in¬ 
formation in my power, on any points connected with gold 
mining in Colorado. There is no doubt that mining in that 
country is exceedingly remunerative, or that investments 
in it may be made with the certainty of large profits. 

One or more of those who are directly interested in the in¬ 
vestment, should personally use his best judgment as to it in 
the place and at the time when and where it is made. My 
opinion is that the most satisfactory course would be to invest 
in such a manner as would yield early and profitable returns 
in a region of which the mines are already developed, using 














12 


the services of agents as favorable opportunities offer, gradu¬ 
ally to secure valuable claims for future use in more remote 

1 places. 

I 

Instances of Success. 

i 

There are many instances of the most triumphant success. 
I have already alluded to one of these. The miner known as 
“ old man Fields” is confidently believed to have taken $75,- 
000 out of the quartz found in 33s feet, on the lode known as 
the “ Bobtail,” in the Gregory District. This lode is also ex¬ 
tensively worked by other proprietors, including one of the 
most prosperous firms in Colorado, the Black Hawk Mining 
Company. 

Yield per Cord or Ton. 

From the statements made to me by gentlemen who are 
members of this Company, and who kindly permitted access 
to their books, and in many other respects took pains to assist 
me in procuring information in regard to gold-mining, I 
have no doubt that much of the “ Bobtail” ore can be made to 
yield $800 per cord (six tons) as a practical result, besides 
leaving as is usually, if not always, the case with all the ore in 
the Territory, a great deal of gold with the refuse, commonly 
called the “tailings” of the mills, no process for extracting it 
fully being yet known. The “tailings” are now carefully laid 
aside for future use, and are esteemed as being in themselves 
mines of great wealth, the prize in prospect being sufficient to 
ensure the attention of scientific chemists and mechanics in 
many parts of the world. Of late the chief effort in this 
direction has been to desulphurize the ore by the process of 
combustion. 

Black Hawk Mining Co. 

The following report is taken from the books of the Black 
Hawk Co., (Messrs. Lee, Judd & Lee,) and gives the result 

















13 

o± their mining operations during the month ended on the 
25th day of last April: 


Black Hawk, Eagle and Tiger Mills. 


Week ended April 

4. 1863. - 

$ 5,538 

u U 4 c 

11. 

5,299 

u *4 u 

18, --- - 

- 4,639 

u u u 

25, - 

5,580 

T otal 

- 

21,056 


This shows an income of more than eight hundred and 
seventy-five dollars a day in gold. Adding the premium on 
gold, which during that month was about 50 per cent, the in¬ 
come was more than thirteen hundred dollars a day in the 
common currency of the United States. 

If rumor is to be believed this Company expended $60,000 
before yielding profitable returns, and offered to sell out all 
its property two years ago for $42,000. It was a pioneer 
Company, and the information and experience gained by it, 
and other early enterprizes, are of great advantage in subse¬ 
quent efforts. 

Yield per Cord in various Mines. 

From the newspapers published at Central City, May 5-7 
I extract the following statements :— 

“Mr. Moores crushed from five cords of the ore of the Bates’ 
lode, last week, $950. There is a handsome profit in that; 
mining and crushing do not cost more than $100 per cord.” 

“ Frank Sceisler made a new discovery on the Quartz Hill 
last week, which we consider decidedly one of the best things 
out. From 1§ cords of surface quartz, the first taken out, $612 
were crushed. The next cord yielded $900. This is one of 
the richest things ever found in the country, but nothing more 
than we expect will be frequently found.” 

“J. Q. A. Rollins grushed 3i cords from the Gold Dirt, 
which yielded $1,650.” 

“Henderson & Gridley on the Gregory crushed lli cords 
of quartz and extracted $2950.50.” 

“ Ed. Moores of the Idaho Mill, running eight stamps, from 


t 




14 


live cords of quartz from the Bates, cleaned up $799. This 
does not include the yield from the Chilian Arasta.” 

Process of extracting the Gold from the Ore. 

The usual method of extracting the gold may be simply 
described as follows: The ore is crushed to powder by heavy 
stamps, which fall down with great force; then the powder is 
mixed with water run over metalic plates, having slight ridges 
on their surface, and smeared with quick-silver. Tlius part 
of the gold is retained. The process is very imperfect. 

The Metals and Minerals found with the Gold. 

The quartz contains large quantities of sulphate of iron or 
iron pyrites, in connection with the gold. Beside this are 
many other ingredients, varying frequently in kind and pro¬ 
portion in the different lodes. In one, called the “ Running 
Lode ” I saw besides sulphur, ore containing gold, iron, lead, 
silver, copper, antimony, arsenic and, I was told, also tin. It 
is a most capricious vein ; and the proprietors never know 
what metal may be twelve inches from them in the mine. 

The gold ore or quartz is usually of a light grey color—. 
Many particles of it shine brightly in the sun, and form 
handsome specimens to carry away, but these are not the 
precious metal. That which glitters is not the gold, but 
chiefly pyrites of iron. 

The various Metals found in Colorado—Iron 
and Coal. 


The Territory abounds in metals of nearly all kinds, but 
the “ sacred hunger ” for gold absorbs all the attention of 
the miners- 

Iron ore of a very excellent quality is found in some parts 
of the Territory, not far from Denver,*and in close proximity 
to coal. The high price of freight over the Plains for six 
hundred miles without railroad or water carriage, affords a 
high, natural protection to the manufacture of iron, of which 
no capitalist has yet availed himself. It could scarcely fail 


( 











15 


to be a most profitable and secure investment, so much iron 
is and must be used In the Territory. 

Silver and Lead. 

Silver mining in Colorado was for some time regarded 
with great hope, but this metal has not yet been found in 
sufficient abundance to make its production profitable. Good- 
sized nuggets of silver have sometimes been found near the 
surface. Rich lead ore containing much silver is also often 
found. A practical miner of much experience and observa¬ 
tion says, that the lead usually diminishes as you penetrate 
deeper into the earth, the iron pyrites and gold-bearing rock 
taking its place I did not hear of its being smelted, except 
that some of the “ boys” when they need it for their rifles 
and revolvers, sometimes throw together a few sticks of wood, 
and putting ore on the top, melt out enough lead for their 
own use. 

Platinum, Zinc, Manganese, Alum, Salt and 
Petroleum. 

Platinum, Zinc, Manganese, magnetic iron-sand, alum, 
salt and petroleum are also among the mineral products of 
the Territory. 

Machinery used in Colorado. 

The machinery required for obtaining gold from the quartz 
or ore is of very simple construction, consisting chiefly of an 
engine (or wheel, if water power is used,) and a set of stamps 
for crushing the ore. 

Larger Machinery desirable. 

It is the opinion of all practical miners in Colorado, with 
only one or two exceptions, that the engines now in use there 
are by no means large enough for the required work. The 
largest of them measures 14 inch cylinder, and 24 inch 
stroke, runs 24 revolutions per minute, and carries about 50 
lbs. steam; in Colorado this engine is estimated at 80 horse 












16 

power. All other engines are likewise overrated, and to do 
the work required ot them they are run at high speed. The 
boilers are all tubular] 5 small, being in proportion to the 
engines. 

The Water leaves little Scale on the Boilers. 

It may be- well to state here that the water leaves little 
or no scale on the iron. 

Want of Capital, the cause cf deficiency in 
Steam Power. 

The cause of this lack of steam power seems to be a want 
of capital to buy large engines, and a want of practical 
knowledge of engines, although experience is teaching the 
miners, that they have not studied economy in this particular. 

Engines, &c. chiefly made in St, Louis and 
Chicago. 

Most of the engines and stamping machinery have been 
made in St. Louis and Chicago. 

I submit herewith lists of the steam and water power 
quartz mills in Colorado* in 1861—1863, giving much inter¬ 
esting and useful information as to the number of stamps 
used in each mill, the makers of machinery, the localities of 
the mills, and many other particulars. 

The Stamps, their weight, modus operandi— 
description of other Machinery, &c. &c. 

The stamps vary in weight, some being as small as 300 lb., 
and others as large as 600 lbs. Perhaps an 800 lb. set, hav¬ 
ing ten inch faces, would be best. In other respects they are 
similar. They consist of a shaft about 2 to 3 inches in diameter, 
run by a belt direct from the main shaft, say from 7 to 11 rev¬ 
olutions, this shaft is in front of the stamps, and extends the 
whole length of the batteries, and of course varies in length 
with the number of stamps used. Opposite to each stamp 

* These lists are attached to the Report in the possession of S. G. Cornell, Esq. 
of Buffalo, of which this is a copy. 



















17 


on this shaft are 2 or 3 arms (2 are best) winch lift the stamp 
and let it fall upon the ore beneath. The stamp is a round 
block of iron like a large weight, having a face varying as 
the weight, and about 12 inches high, fastened to either an 
iron rod about 1 h inch diameter, and 10 to 12 feet long, hav¬ 
ing a large collar opposite the shaft under which the arms 
bear in raising the stamp. The action of the arm turns the 
rod in its journals, thus saving friction. Or else the stamp 
proper is fastened to a wooden bar the same length as the 
iron rod, having a long mortice, the upper end of which is 
opposite the shaft, and into which the arm works. Some 
prefer the first, as they think the stamp turns as it falls, thus 
crushing the ore more effectually. The box into which the 
stamp drops is longer or shorter according to the face of the 
stamps, they being placed as close as possible without inter¬ 
fering with one another. It is about four or five inches deep, 
aijd then the four sides are beveled out at about an angle of 
45 degrees, about three inches higher. This beveled part is 
covered with copper, which is smeared over with quick-silver. 
On the side of the workman, all above is closed in, except a 
space about two feet above the bottom of the box, which is 
fixed like a shoot, for throwing in the ore. On the front side 
above the beveled part is a fine copper gauze, about 18 inches 
high, through which the crushed ore passes, held in suspen¬ 
sion by the water, which is let into the box in a steady small 
stream by a pipe in the frame-work of the mill. It is then re¬ 
ceived on gently sloping tables, covered with copper, and 
amalgamated, and about six to ten feet long, and there the 
gold, not held by the beveled plates in the box, is taken up. 
Some have additional tables covered with blankets, which 
retain some more gold. The blankets are frequently washed 
out. 

The “Boxes.” 

The boxes are made to hold from three to five stamps each, 
and are placed next to each other, all being contained in one 


















18 


frame, and run by one shaft, but otherwise separate; for in¬ 
stance, in a fifteen stamp mill, you may have three batteries 
of five stamps, or five batteries of three stamps. Some mills 
have one kind, and some the other, and others have both run 
by the same shaft, i believe the three stamp batteries are 
generally preferred. The mills vary in the number of stamps, 
sometimes containing 32 stamps, four 5 stamp batteries, and 
four 3 stamp. 

The Sloping Tables. 

The sloping tables are only each as wide as a battery, and 
on each side have a guard about two inches high. 

Method of raising the Ore from the Mines. 

The mills are, with one exception, some distance from the 
shafts, or mines, the hoisting there is performed by an ordin¬ 
ary “ whim,” worked sometimes by a horse or mule, and 
sometimes by a five or six horse-power engine; a ten or fifteen 
horse engine would be better, in some cases where the shafts 
are worked to great depth. 

Recent experiments—the “Keith Process.” 

This is the mode of extracting the gold from the ore, and 
it has been found that but a small proportion is obtained. 
Therefore men are continually experimenting to find some 
machinery or invention, which will do the work better. 
Among those used at present, the “ Keith Process” appears 
to be one of the most successful. The ore is mixed with the 
sulphurets of iron and copper, probably most of the latter, 
and this “ Process'’ is used to dissulphurize the ore. 

The “Keith Process” described. 

It consists of a jaw working on a frame at about 25 strokes, 

crushing dry ore, which is then conveyed by a tube or 
trough to a close narrow sort of iron fan mill, having inside 
three arms revolving 125 times. The crushed ore is introduced 

to the centre, and the high speed throws it out along the 














19 

arms till it is reduced to fine powder, when the draft caused 
by the arms carries it through a 3 or 4 inch flue into a fur¬ 
nace, whichis heated to an intense heat, the flue then expand¬ 
ing to about three or four feet wide, and one foot high, takes 
a slanting direction down, about ten feet at an angle of 45 
degrees, all the time heated by fire underneath. The sul¬ 
phur is separated from the ore in this flue, and at the bot¬ 
tom it is sent through an opening in the roof of the flue, an¬ 
other flue passing along the top of the first, and so off 
into the air, while the desulphurized ore falls into a pit where 
it cools, and is taken out and submitted to the action of 
quicksilver. This “ Process ” is, I am informed, satisfac¬ 
tory. , 

The “Washoe” or “Friesburg” pans. 

Experiments were going on while I was visiting the mines, 
to determine the best method of submitting the ore to quick¬ 
silver ; and the “Washoe” or “Friesburg” pans it was 
claimed—would not only extract the gold, but would save 
enough copper to pay the expense of desulphurizing. Ore, 
which in the quartz mill, yielded but $200 to the cord, gave 
up $800 under the “ Keith Process ” in gold, not to mention 
the copper. 

Water Power 

There are many places where water can be advantageous¬ 
ly used as a motive power. Where it can be found in 
convenient proximity to the lodes, a great advantage is gain¬ 
ed, not only for the present, but to be more highiy appreci¬ 
ated as fire-wood becomes more scarce. The water having 
its source in the melting snow of the mountains, is most 
abundant in summer. There are several water mills in the 
Gregory District. In one mill of the Black Hawk Co. water 
is used in summer, and steam in winter. At Fall River, in 
the Lincoln District, is the finest water power I saw, it is 
said to be open in winter. By using a trunk as a race, it 
probably could be kept open the year round. 



20 


Kind of water-wheels used. 

The principal water-wheel used is the over-shot, although 
there are some under-shot and breast wheels. I saw no tur¬ 
bine wheel, although it might answer a good purpose. 

Estimate of the Expense of Sinking Shafts. 

The expense of sinking a shaft, four feet wide and twelve 
feet long through the “ Cap,” is estimated to be about $25 
per running foot ; if the shaft is from 60 to 100 feet deep, 
$30 per foot if it is from 100 to 160 feet deep, and so on in 
proportion. The expense increasing with the depth, and con¬ 
sequent difficulty of drawing the rubbish to the surface. 

Much of course depends upon the hardness of the rock 
through wffiich the shaft is sunk. One practical miner of 
adequate experience estimates that even through a hard rock, 
a sufficient shaft of one hundred and fifty feet in depth, 
reaching from the surface , can be sunk at an expense aver¬ 
aging only$16, to $18, a foot, and that in softer rock, such as 
is found in some of the mines, a similar shaft can be made at 
an expense of $ 10 , or $ 12 , a foot. 

In some cases a large proportion, or the whole, of the ex¬ 
pense of the shaft is defrayed by the gold found during the 
process. Indeed some mines have been sunk to a great depth 
without encountering the “Cap” at all. 

General statement as to prices in Colorado 

Prices of most kinds vary much in Colorado. Sometimes 
speculators, knowing how long it will be before an additional 
supply can be brought into the market, buy up the whole 
stock of some particular articles, thus creating for the time 
an artificial scarcity. Sometimes other accidental causes 
create a rise in prices, the stock on hand being usually small. 
Brick, for instance, is higher than usual, in consequence of 
the large fire at Denver this spring, and the stampede of la¬ 
borers to the newly discovered gold region at Salmon Biver. 













21 

My estimate of prices is of course applicable only to ordin¬ 
ary circumstances. 

Prices of Specific Articles 

Iron castings cost 15c per lb. Wrought iron 22c, some¬ 
times 40c. Sheet copper 75c and $1. Lumber $30, per thous¬ 
and. Wood, at Central is $2,75 to $3, per cord. Lime 
$1,75 per bushel. Brick, at present $12, per thousand, or 
$24, laid. Building as a whole, costs one-third more than in 
the States. Groceries, dry goods and hardware are of course 
dearer than in the States. So are flour, pork and corn, they be- 
ing yet chiefly brought across the Plains. Beef, mutton and 
potatoes are sold at about the same prices as in the Middle 
States. From the nature of the country, provisions will soon 
be sold there at reasonable prices. Present prices are due to 
the recency of the settlement, which, as I have already stated 
began four years ago. 

Prices of Labor. 

Wages for common hands, as millmen &c., are from $30, 
to $40, a month with board, or $2,50 a day without board. 
Without board, men employed in the mines as “ strikers” and 
“drillers,” have $3, to $3,50 a day, “ blasters” $4, and fore¬ 
men $4, or $4,50; mechanics $3,50 to $5. 

Board for Laborers—price of. 

Board for laborers is estimated at $6, a week. It is said to 
cost actually, where a large number are boarded, about $3 
or $3,50. 

In a good lode four men wflll take out five or six cords of 
quartz, each week. 

The climate of Colorado —its peculiar adapta¬ 
tion to domestic animals, and the future supply of 
animal food abundant. 

The climate of Colorado varies with its height, both as to 
temperature and the amount of rain or snow. On the summits 



22 


of the highest mountains winter is practically perpetual. On 
the Plains the snows of winter are never sufficient to prevent 
cattle of all kinds from thriving and fattening on the nutricious 
grass, dried up, and thus cured by nature in July and August, 
At a considerable elevation, for several miles beyond Central 
City for instance, the farmer need store up or provide no food 
except for working cattle or milch cows. With the single 
exception of the hog, a larger amount of the usual animal pro¬ 
ductions of the United States, will probably for the next fifty 
years be raised in Colorado than will be required for the use 
of its inhabitants, even at the most moderate prices. 

The Grain Crops, etc. 

As regards the production of grain, the crops on the vari¬ 
ous branches of the South Platte, Arkansas and Fontaine que 
Bruille, and many other regions, afford most encouraging 
prospects. Gov. Evans estimates that in 1862 the production 
of the last named valley alone, was 25,000 bushels of wheat, 
40,000 bushels of corn, 20,000 bushels of potatoes, and other 
produce in proportion. There is little doubt that the home 
demand for cereal productions will soon be abundantly sup¬ 
plied, and the necessity for importation of them from the 
States be entirely superceded. 

Usual Dryness of the Atmosphere—the Rainy 
Season. 

• 

The usual dryness of the atmosphere prevents the human 
system from feeling as in most parts of the States, the full 
effects of variations of temperature, either towards heat or 
cold. In the spring the need of rain is often severely felt, but 
near the end of June, a period, known throughout the Ter¬ 
ritory as “ the rainy season,” usually begins, and continues 
several weeks, producing highly beneficial results. The rain 
is not continuous throughout the day, but consists of heavy 
and refreshing showers in the afternoon. These originate in 
the snowy Range, and are accompanied by thuuder and 











23 


lightening. The extreme rarity of the atmosphere some¬ 
times produces lassitude; but a breeze almost always prevails 
and the climate is not only healthy, buts is deemed exceed¬ 
ingly agreeable by settlers from all parts of the United States 
and Europe. 

S. DOUGLAS CORNELL. 


Buffalo, October 10, 1863. 

Information received from various parties since my arrival 
in Buffalo, proves that large investments have been, and will 
continue to be made in Colorado this summer by Eastern 
capitalists. The amount thus invested during the present 
year, will, it is estimated by the “Colorado Miner” of July 
4, be between one and two millions of dollars. The “Miner” 
chronicles several large sales at prices of $40,000 and $25,000, 
as well as others of smaller amounts—the purchasers being 
chiefly New York and Boston men. Early action cannot 
be too strongly recommended to those who intend to invest. 

The “ Miner ” records the yields of various lodes, fully 
confirming the estimates I have already made of their pro¬ 
ductiveness. 


S. DOUGLAS. CORNELL. 




















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